Much Goes Wrong After Wright Sits Out

ORLANDO — The pro career of Heat rookie Dorell Wright has proven to be an all-or-nothing proposition.

When it comes to the Heat's outlook at Pepsi Pro Summer League, nothing best sums up the experience.

A night after scoring 30 points against a team of young players and free agents from the Washington Wizards, Wright was held out of Wednesday's 99-67 loss to a similar group from the New Jersey Nets.

With the 18-year-old slowed by a strained right groin, the Heat staff decided there was no need to push the first-round pick through this schedule of five games in five days.

Wright said he was injured while taking a charge in Tuesday's 89-59 loss.

"Next time I'll learn to take one the right way," he said with a smile.

Without Wright, the Heat was unable to generate offense, with an uneven 17-point effort from forward Jerome Beasley as good as it got.

Beasley's total did not overwhelm assistant coach Bob McAdoo, who is guiding the Heat's summer unit.

"I'd like to see him show a little bit more in summer-league games like this," said McAdoo of last year's second-round pick. "If he's a player who wants to play and be in our rotation, he's got to be more dominant. He's got to do more."

A continuing concern with Beasley is the lack of rebounding from a 6-foot-10 player.

"Jerome's got to get 'em on the boards more," McAdoo said after Beasley finished with three in 29 minutes. "Why he's not doing it, I don't know."

McAdoo also expressed disappointment in the lack of rebounding by 7-1 center Wang Zhi-Zhi, with the veteran limited to three in 21 minutes Wednesday.

"Those guys have got to rebound," he said.

HAIL TO HALE

About the only praise from McAdoo came for former Florida State forward Ron Hale, who had 11 points and five rebounds Wednesday. Hale was a final cut by the Heat in its 2000 training camp, missing out on the final roster spot when the team opted for the superior ball-handling of forward Jamal Robinson. Hale has since has played in the Philippines, Japan and Portugal, with plans to join the Denver Nuggets' summer program next week. ... The Heat has been linked to a small group of suitors for Chicago's Jamal Crawford, with General Manager Randy Pfund saying, "We like Jamal." But the team seemingly lacks the wherewithal to pull off anything other than a significant sign-and-trade deal for the restricted free agent.